5 Creative Ways to Teach Tissue Engineering to Excite Students

Tissue engineering is an enthralling field with profound importance in diverse organism systems like plants, animals, and even humans. Its significance lies in its potential to revolutionize healthcare by creating functional tissues and organs. With great potential in the fields of regenerative medicine, biomaterials, and cell biology, this topic becomes important for all Biology students alike as it can contribute abundantly to the causes of agricultural biotechnology, personalized medicine for humans and animal tissue, and organ culture. 

There is an endless list of reasons why teaching this tissue engineering can be quite a task for educators:

1. Complex and Multidisciplinary Nature
2. Rapidly Evolving Field
3. Lack of Standardized Curriculum
4. Limited Access to Resources
5. Ethical and Societal Considerations
6. Integration of Theory and Practice
7. Limited Interdisciplinary Collaboration

To overcome these challenges, we’re sharing 5 creative ways to simplify teaching. 

1. Use Interactive Models and Simulations

Interactive models and simulations can be the best choice measure to simplify the concepts involved in the diverse field of tissue engineering. As the students are provided with more interactive resources to visualize complex biological structures and processes like tissue formation and cellular interactions, this method can foster clarity on the steps involved in tissue engineering. 

Research has proved that the use of interactive models like whiteboards (IWBs) can be very beneficial in teaching as they can capture and communicate the essence of the subject.

To explain the complex multidisciplinary system of tissue engineering, Labster has designed an innovative Tissue Engineering Simulation that can be employed in classroom environments as well as virtual teaching (even long-distance teaching). In this meticulously designed simulation, students can delve deeper into the subject and apply their knowledge to help in the cartilage replacement of soccer players.  

2. Learning with Games and Activities

The integration of gamification elements and physical involvement of students in tissue engineering classes will ensure fosters dynamic knowledge transfer as they heighten student engagement and curiosity. The element of games is such that it facilitates the transfer of theoretical concepts into practical scenarios. Labster’s Tissue Engineering Virtual Lab works on the same principle of gamification and physical involvement of students as it enriches their learning experience. The learners are posed with a challenge to “produce hydrogels for repairing articular cartilage”. While providing a game-like experience, it effectively focuses on progression, achievement, and the sense of solving a problem amongst learners.  

Discover Labster's Tissue Engineering virtual lab today!

3. Infusing Technology into Study Plans

Integrating the latest technological advancements into study plans is crucial for teaching tissue engineering effectively. By embracing cutting-edge tools and techniques, educators can provide students with a more up-to-date and immersive learning experience. Some of the advisable tools are:

• Augmented reality (AR) 
• Virtual reality (VR) 
  

The integration of cloud-based platforms and remote laboratories like Labster’s Virtual Lab also allows for collaborative and remote learning experiences.

4. Inspiring Learners by Connecting to Career Prospects

Learners can be inspired by helping them envision career prospects related to tissue engineering.  This measure can serve as the driving force as it can help students in realizing the importance of the subject in real-life scenarios. Some of the brightest and most exciting career paths that can be explained in class are: 

1. Tissue/Biomedical/Clinical/Bioprocess Engineer
2. Research Scientist
3. Regenerative Medicine/ Biofabrication Specialist
4. Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgeon

5. Connecting the Topic to Real-World Applications

Connecting the topic of tissue engineering to real-world applications is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the subject. By showcasing how tissue engineering is utilized in regenerative medicine, drug development, and biomedical engineering, educators can bridge the gap between theory and practice. 

Through this connection, students gain a deeper appreciation for the field's potential and are inspired to pursue careers where they can contribute to advancements in healthcare and make a difference in people's lives. To give a flavor of its use in real-world situations, you can also use Labster’s Virtual Operation Theatre where students can put their knowledge about tissue engineering techniques to use in helping a physician in the restoration of a sportsman’s damaged articular cartilage.

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Final thoughts

Teaching tissue engineering is highly beneficial and relevant in today's scientific and medical landscape. By teaching tissue engineering, educators prepare students for careers in healthcare, biomedical research, and biotechnology. To nurture future professionals who can contribute to advancements in healthcare and make a positive impact on society, we need to refocus on this field and simplify it as much as we can for our young learners. 

References

1. Armstrong, Victoria, Sally Barnes, Rosamund Sutherland, Sarah Curran, Simon Mills, and Ian Thompson. "Collaborative research methodology for investigating teaching and learning: the use of interactive whiteboard technology." Educational review 57, no. 4 (2005): 457-469.
2. Haleem, A., Javaid, M., Khan, R. H., & Suman, R. (2020). 3D printing applications in bone tissue engineering. Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma, 11, S118-S124.